Report honour violence, say police in death threats trial

Victims of "honour" attacks have been urged to report crimes to police after the conviction of a Muslim student who threatened to kill his cousin if she did not wear a head scarf.

Mohamed Al Hakim, 29, phoned Alya Al Safar to warn her that he would be seeking revenge for the "shame" she had brought on their family - leaving her too afraid to leave the house. She had chosen to stop wearing the traditional hijab shortly before.

Al Hakim, of Fulham, had already branded the women in her family "bitches and whores" because of her decision. He denied making threats to kill but was convicted at Isleworth crown court and will be sentenced at a later date.

Speaking outside court, Detective Inspector Glyn Jones of Hammersmith and Fulham's community safety unit, said: "The victim was left in fear following the reaction of her cousin and by working together we have made it clear that this threatening behaviour is not acceptable.

"Other victims of honour-based violence should feel reassured that they can report allegations to police who have specially-trained officers to investigate these crimes, and can also provide access to other organisations who are dedicated to supporting the victims."

Ms Al Safar, 21, told the court that she was at home with her parents and two younger brothers at about midnight on June 9 last year when they received a call from Al Hakim.

He demanded they put the call on speaker phone and then threatened her. Ms Al Safar, who did not have her head covered in court and swore on the Koran to give evidence, said: "He said 'Listen Alya, I am warning you if by the 19th of June you are not wearing the hijab back, I am warning you, I will kill you and harm you.

"I am giving you 10 days to do so. You brought shame to your family, you should not have done that'."

Her mother then tried to hang up, Ms Al Safar said, but accidentally pressed a button making him think they were recording the call.

She continued: "He was calm. I was so scared, I really felt scared because my cousin was threatening me. I didn't know if he was joking, if he was just mad or if it was true and he would do it. He started shouting 'Listen to me you had better do what I said. I have seen you on the Edgware Road and if I see you again I will kill you'.

"He said something about harming my father as well. I was so scared I didn't want to leave the house"

Ms Al Safar added: "The complete decision to stop wearing the hijab was made in early June but I was thinking about it long ago. I spoke to my whole family about it but I didn't tell my aunties and uncles immediately."

George Papageorgis, prosecuting, said: "It appears that the aunty and her family took exception to that, they did not like it, and it appears that this cousin, who is the eldest in the immediate vicinity, took exception and gave her an ultimatum."